Page 163 of Never Tell Secrets

“For the money. She needed it and I played on that to get her to do something she wasn’t comfortable with. It should be me you hold accountable not her.”

“I do hold you accountable.”But she didn’t need to pretend she was my friend.That was the unspoken pain I wasn’t ready to admit out loud.

“Lola, if you want to discuss this with Maia later you’re free to do so but I won’t stand for you yelling at my employees, are we clear?”

I gritted my teeth as I glared at him. As much as I wanted to argue, I understood his point. “Yes.”

“Good. Now, Angie.”

“Behave myself, I’ve got it.” I waved him off. I didn’t think I could stand a lecture on being nice to Angie. Despite the hell she’d been through, she was still a Class A bitch that had tried to come between Alfie and I.

“I’ll speak with her, but don’t let her get to you.” He took my chin in his hand, forcing me to look up at him. “You’re better than that, my love.”

I pulled out of his grip, wishing I was anywhere but here. I didn’t trust any of these people. I traced a finger over the Versace emblem. I didn’t belong here at all.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’ve never felt less fancy than a dinner plate before.”

“That’s actually an appetiser plate.”

“Oh, fuck off.” I rolled my eyes, fighting the urge to laugh as Alfie chuckled.

“Come on, let’s finish the tour before take off.” He led me through a cinema room, then into a hallway leading to six separate cabins with adjoining bathrooms. I paused in one when I found my bags neatly stowed there.

“I had your things put in here in case you wanted to sleep,” Alfie leaned against the door frame as I looked around the room.“The flight is just under seven hours but I thought you might be tired as you’ve been up all night.” My head whipped around, eyes narrowed. His expression fell as he realised what he’d said. “No cameras, I promise. I just know you.”

I stared at him, searching his face for a lie. Everything in his too-perfect face told me he was telling the truth. He wasn’t still watching me.

“I couldn’t sleep.” I sat on the bed, wishing that trusting him wasn’t so hard.

“Me either.” He crouched in front of me, close but not touching. “I’m going to give you space on this trip, as much as you’d like. If you want or need anything, please communicate with me. I know you’re angry and I know that’s not going away for a long time but we have to keep talking, there’s no other way through this.”

“I know. I’m trying but swinging between hate and fear and back around to wanting you again is exhausting. I’m giving myself whiplash, Alfie.” I sighed, clutching my fingers around my necklace. “I feel unsteady, like I don’t know what my mood will be from one moment to the next.”

Alfie nodded, studying my face. I let him, for once not trying to hide what I was feeling from him. “I can weather the storm, Lo. If you need distance one minute and then to shout at me and cry the next, that’s fine. If you need me to hold you all night and leave you in the morning, I’ll do it. Just don’t shut me out.”

“K.” I didn’t want to agree to let him in, it didn’t feel safe but I knew I had to try. If I couldn’t fix this part of myself he’d broken then I never would. “Right now I just need to sleep.”

“Of course.” He stood. “You need to be seated for take off but after that you can move around the plane as you wish.”

I followed him back to the lounge. Ignoring Angie, I slid into the window seat Alfie directed me to, not arguing as he took the seat next to mine. The pilot announced our take off over thespeaker system and I watched as Maia, Elliot and Angie each fastened their safety belts. I searched for mine but instead of the simple belt everyone else had, mine seemed to be some kind of harness.

Alfie moved in front of me, taking over. I would have argued if the plane wasn’t rumbling to life. I’d rather be safe than stubborn.

“Maybe I should switch to a different seat with one of the easy belts.”

“No, I had this one installed for you.” He looked up as he held the harness out for me to put my arms through. “It’s safer. They use these for children.”

“Seriously? I’m in the kid seat?” The bastard smiled at me, laughing as I put my arms in the harness. He buckled me in, clicking all six buckles into place and tightening the strap with a firm hand. “You’re enjoying this way too much,” I muttered.

He ran his hands over the harness checking it was secure. “You have no idea.” His voice was low, sending an unwelcome shiver up my spine.

Alfie settled in his own seat and a minute later we were moving. I swallowed as we rose, my ears popping as we left London behind us.

I looked at my companions, each avoiding my eye except for Alfie who met it square on. I had demons to exorcise with each and every one of them. This was going to be a long trip.

Fifty-One